Gray Family Gimme a Break

This is Gimme A Break, the show where you lot take control

of the family holiday.

On Gimme A Break the kids have all the say.

They decide where they go, what activities they do and,

most importantly, they're in charge of the holiday rules.

Today's family, who are in for the ride of their lives, are the Greys.

Step-dad Ada.

Mum Lisa.

Ten-year-old Elle and her best friend, ten-year-old Georgia.

So why do the kids deserve to be given a break?

The place we go on holiday is Cyprus and it is the same every year.

It's easy. It's our ideal holiday because it's all about us.

We can do what we want, which is very little.

We always go to the same place,

do the same thing every day and I'm so sick of it.

We do alternate with inflatables.

Sometimes they have a boat and sometimes they have a dolphin.

I'm really excited about going on the holiday

cos I'm going with my best mate and I haven't done it before,

so it's really going to be exciting.

Georgia may be the youngest

in the family, but she's certainly the the bossiest.

I'm going to help Elle kick her mum and Ada into shape.

They won't know what's hit them.

My mum basically isn't up for any activities and it's driving me insane.

Then they have one day at the water park.

Yeah. True. On the beach they get an ice cream as well.

I only go to the water park once or, if I'm lucky, twice.

There is one ride I will go on, but it's a lilo that just floats round,

so I can still sunbathe and read my book.

That's the only treat I get really.

Having Elle and Georgia taking control of my holiday...

this programme is my worst nightmare.

Right, you lot, there are some serious issues here that need

sorting out. The first thing I have to ask you is, are you ready

-to take control of the family break?

-Yeah!

-Yeah!

Brilliant. Which means, parents, hands on hearts.

It's time for the parents' promise.

We hereby hand over control of the next family holiday

to both Elle and Georgia."

You've said it now. It's set in stone,

so we'll take that from you and we need to go and talk holidays.

Brilliant. Right, let's talk about holidays.

If it was cold, then like skiing or some cold sport.

It would be funny, Mum and Ada can't ski, they'd be all over the place.

Of course it's not just Elle that's in charge of this holiday.

You are sharing the responsibility. So what do you want to do?

I don't want to eat plain old English,

boring food. I want to eat like local food.

So both of you want to get as far away from England as possible.

-You don't want a very English holiday?

-No.

Is it going to be weird going away without your own mum and dad or are you excited?

No, I'm quite excited, cos now I'm friends with Elle,

I'm used to Ada and Lisa as well.

-Who's looking forward to a fantastically fun holiday?

-Us!

-Who's gonna set the rules?

-Us!

-Who's in charge?

-Us!!

-Sounding good.

So I know what the girls are looking for and we've now got three stunning

breaks for them to choose from.

But I'm not going to just let them decide.

They're going to have to work out what their choices are from

a collection of rather random objects.

First place for clues, and the girls must wear some traditional clothing.

Well, we thought they were Irish,

but Georgia thought they were Scottish at first.

What's that?

Aaaagh!

-We sort of jumped a bit.

-Then I screamed.

I think it might be something to do with climbing.

-Yeah.

-Or somewhere that your feet won't touch the... Rock climbing.

Do we have to eat it?

It's absolutely manky.

-Phhttt!

-It tastes like pickled onion.

-It's not. It's cabbage, look.

It may be eating food on roller coasters or scary things.

OK, off to the indoor ski slope for their second set of clues.

"Is this a clue or an igloo?"

-It could be a skiing holiday.

-Cold place.

Yeah, and an igloo is in a cold place.

What's that? Is there something there?

What about that then?

Oh, yeah! We must be here and we're going there. Where's that though?

-It must be somewhere cold.

-Yeah.

One here, look!

Oh, look! There's a flag there! It's a flag of somewhere.

Oh, I don't know. Russia?

-We think it's in like Russia and like a skiing holiday.

-Yeah.

And finally, down to the local park.

I can see something there.

Yeah, girls, behind you! Behind you!

-Ugh!

-What is it?

Ugh, it's snails! Would you ever eat one?

I've got two pet snails, so it felt like I was eating my friends.

Put it in your mouth. Ugh!

-Is it nice?

-No! I didn't chew it. I sucked it and then bit it a bit.

-Ugh!

-I thought I'd spit it out then.

-They're horrible!

It might be France, because they eat snails in France.

We found this pump sticking up in the ground.

It looked a bit like a firework at first.

A wheelie?

-Could be a bike.

-Yeah.

-Or something like that.

It could be anywhere with bikes.

So Elle and Georgia have had a go at guessing what might be on offer.

Let's see if they were right.

Time to find out about your dream break and this is break number one.

Break one is an adrenalin-seeker's dream of a break.

How does a theme park holiday in Germany sound?

Rollercoasters, a few animals thrown in and more rollercoasters.

-First impressions?

-I'm a bit scared of the rollercoasters,

but the animals and the chalets and everything else, that's really good.

Scared of the rollercoasters, but loving the animals.

And what will your mum and dad say if you say,

"We'll be on a rollercoaster for the next few days?"

They'd kill me when we get back.

OK. Break number two.

This is the Slovenian flag.

Pick this and you'll be in the beautiful mountains of Slovenia

where you'll learn how to ski and stay in an igloo.

I'm guessing with you going to Cyprus all your life,

neither of you have got any idea what that country's like.

-No.

-I can tell you, it is amazing, OK.

It will be jam-packed with loads of snow.

-How do you feel about that?

-Really good.

How much would it mean to go on the snow?

I have done skiing before, but only as a bit of a lesson. It'd be good.

Are you not bothered about Elle's parents not liking the holiday?

-Not that bothered.

-Hands up who's ready for break number three.

Let's find out what it is. Here we go.

If cycling in France is your ideal break, then this one's for you,

but be warned, this holiday is not for those who like lying around.

It's an amazing country. Beautiful countryside.

How are your leg muscles?

-Yeah.

-They're all right? How are your mum and dad's leg muscles?

-Fat.

-They've got fat leg muscles?

OK. How do you feel about cycling from chateau to chateau?

-It would be quite fun.

-Well, this is a big decision for you two now.

It's time to stop listening to me

think about where you want to go on your break. So see you in a bit.

I think break one was more, er...

I liked the animals.

The rollercoasters looked scary.

I liked everything about break two.

It looked a bit scary though, but really fun and the skiing.

I like bike riding through the villages.

But I think I'd be a bit worn out.

-This is really hard.

-Right, girls.

I was looking at you out of the upstairs window,

but I did not hear which break you decided.

It's time to reveal where you're going. Go on.

-Break number two.

-Oh, Slovenia for the skiing!

I knew you were going to go for that one.

You were very excited when you saw it.

Why did you choose that one in the end?

Because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and my mum

won't be happy doing it, so I'm really pleased.

How about staying in the igloo? Cos you were worried about the cold.

Yeah, I think I'm going to be fine.

You've chosen your break. There is one last thing I have to tell you.

This is a bit of a surprise. At the end of your break,

you're going to get the chance to play for one final, massive treat.

However, if you get the little test that I set you wrong,

then your mum and Ada will get the treat instead.

So that's a little extra pressure.

Have a fantastic time in Slovenia.

-Will you send me a postcard?

-Yeah.

-Good.

So the Grey family, who until now spent their holidays in Cyprus

in the same villa, lying on the same beach, are now off to Slovenia.

But how will Mum and Ada react to staying in an igloo?

-Is there heating here?

-No, it would melt.

And will Elle and Georgia win the all-important final treat?

I haven't got a clue.

With the break just a day away, Elle and Georgia packed,

whilst Mum and Ada sat downstairs blissfully unaware of the chaos.

I think he likes them. Pack them.

Packing my clothes is probably the worst nightmare ever.

-I forgot underwear.

-Oh, yeah. Go on then.

-He doesn't wear pants.

-Really?

Even as I kid, I packed my own stuff.

I never had to rely on anybody else and that's the most scariest thing.

Doesn't he like that?

-I don't think so. He never wears it.

-I like going out in nice gear.

Sandals.

Jeans with the correct shoes and the jeans with the correct shirt.

He hasn't got much to wear.

I'm really worried about Elle and Georgia packing my suitcase.

Let's pack Mum's clothes.

My main concern would be

that they don't pack my ten or 15 essentials that I use daily.

-These are the toiletries.

-OK.

-Zip them up.

-I'm dreading that they pack stuff

that I've had in my wardrobe over probably a decade.

-Ugh.

-Pack it.

-Yes.

My worst-case scenario would be one pair of shoes.

-Hm, nice!

-Pack it. Yeah.

-I'm absolutely dreading it.

Can't forget her straighteners, cos she'll be doing her hair.

It's time to say goodbye to Georgia's mum and dad,

filmed by Elle on the Gimme Me A Break Fam Cam.

Oh, what a nice kiss!

Slovenia is in southern Europe.

After a flight of just two hours, the family arrive to snow showers.

Mum and Ada found out at the airport they were going to Slovenia,

but had no idea what activities Elle and Georgia have planned for them.

Right, Mum! Right, Ada! So we're in Slovenia

and it's nice and pretty. You can see all the trees and the lakes.

Isn't it beautiful?

-On the holiday we'll be doing...

-Skiing!

You are joking?

Skiing.

I haven't skied in me life.

Did you guess?

With all the snow...

erm, yes.

Are you pleased, Lisa?

We've got a ski slope five minutes from the house.

I don't like skiing.

Mum, that doesn't matter, cos the girls are in charge of this holiday.

They chose skiing, so skiing it is.

But first, time to unpack.

Let's go and get Mum and Ada's bags and unpack 'em.

Mum, ready to open your suitcase?

No. Give me a minute, Elle.

I need to compose myself. I feel really sick.

Mum wanted to cry.

Open it then.

What's that? No way!

At least I've got me cosmetics.

It's all creased and just thrown in. I'm absolutely gutted.

You'd wear this by the pool.

I packed what they would wear in Cyprus.

You look like a sheep in this.

That's got a hole in it. That's an old jumper. Thanks, Elle.

Nothing matches. I've got hardly any winter wear.

I've got things I don't wear.

I got things I've never worn.

-Ready, Ada?

-No, I'm not.

There, lift it up.

Hideous.

-Ada, he was... He wasn't happy. We put you one glove in.

-Trunks!

Trunks! See the weather?

A work shirt. We're on holiday!

Just the sort of stuff that I never normally wear.

One shoe, one glove. Football socks. What about these?

I've only packed one of them!

He's not having a very good time.

Elle grabs the Fam Cam for a quick tour of the room.

We've got some things...

Yeah, that's fruit.

And glasses. A little cupboard in here.

-This is our bedroom.

-Yeah. Elle, this is all very interesting indeed,

but the big question is, where an earth is Georgia.

When Georgia's finished, we'll go in the toilet.

-Cos she's having a poo.

-Hi!

-George, you finished having a poo?

-Yeah.

-There's plenty of chocolate.

-Oh, my goodness me!

Where does all this come from? Hey, they were to share in the car!

Goodbye!

Hey, good to see the snow's falling and that you had fun unpacking.

Now, guys, as you know, no holiday's complete

without the Gimme A Break rules, as decided by Elle and Georgia.

-So, Lisa, Ada, listen up, cos here they come.

-Here we go.

Rule number one.

Lisa and Ada are not allowed to do any lying around on beaches.

In fact, the girls feel so strongly

about this, they picked a country that only has 30 miles of beaches

and you're at least 100 miles from them.

-Well done, girls.

-It gets worse.

Rule number two. Lisa, you used to be a hairdresser

and Elle likes you getting out your straighteners

for a bit of pampering.

Therefore you, Lisa, have to get up every morning

30 minutes before the girls and you have to do their hair.

Oh, no way!

I've only got time to do my own hair normally in the morning.

Not happy about it, but I'll do it.

Rule number three and, Ada, this is going to hit you in the stomach.

The girls have decided that no British food is eaten on holiday.

You've got to try the lovely, local, Slovenian grub. Good luck.

Oh!

8am the next morning, and as set out in the rules, Mum does their hair.

Are you looking forward to skiing?

-Yeah.

-There's me doing your hair all pretty and then you're going

to shove it in a big helmet.

Yeah, but we'll have it pretty for tonight.

They arrive at the cable car station to take them up the mountain.

-Wow!

-No way!

That is unbelievable.

-How high's that?

-I don't think you'll get me up there.

Scared of heights?

Vogel ski resort is in the Julian Alps,

which stretch from northern Italy.

You can't even see the top.

Ada jumping around in the cable car stresses Mum out.

I didn't enjoy it one bit. Don't like heights.

I wouldn't look out of the window.

I'm not looking forward to going down, so I'm staying here tonight.

Once Mum had overcome her fear and reached the top of the mountain,

-they were ready for their first ski lesson.

-Hello.

-Hi.

-How we doing?

First, we put our toes into the head of the binding.

Then we aim for the heel. We look back, we aim for the heel.

And we press it down.

We now have one ski on.

Does anybody know how to ice skate or roller blade?

-No.

-I know how to ice skate.

What happens if you lean back?

- You fall over. - Fall over.

It's going to happen same thing here.

So we always stay a little bit forward.

I fell over first, as you've probably got on camera.

-Little bit embarrassed.

-With one ski mastered, it was time to try two.

Push away!

Try to stretch out. It's going to be much easier.

I know that you can be faster than me.

Did it!

We need to know how to stop.

So how to make a snow plough.

The tips of the skis stay together

and you push out with your heels.

I can't do this!

First one to test the breaks was Elle.

No need to push yourself any more.

And we make the plough. That's it!

And we make the plough. Slowly. Press hard on your heels. That's it.

-Very good.

-I'm really enjoying, but I really need to sit down but I can't.

I'm not pushing any more.

-No. Lean forward.

-I am, I am!

Make the plough, Mum!

Well, done. There we go.

Oh!

Brake, brake! Brake, Ada!

That's because you're sitting with the back.

Then your skis, they go...

You need to feel your boots on your shins.

I think Lisa and Ada are enjoying this bit,

but they weren't at the start.

It's pretty, pretty hard. It is harder than you think.

Shocked at how warm I am. You know, I'm used to hot holidays

sitting on the beach and believe me I'm hot.

I'm really excited. I want to go down a steeper hill now.

Time for a quick hot chocolate stop. Mum's found new confidence.

I'm going for the Olympics, I am.

Time for a bigger slope.

-Well done!

-Ah!

Good girl!

-Fantastic! Whey!

-Wahey!

I don't know if I can stop.

It's been a real good experience.

I still don't like the cold and I still don't like the snow.

-Apart from that, it's been great.

-I thought it was fantastic.

-Really enjoyed it and it's been one of the best days of my life.

-Aah!

Once back on top of the mountain after a night of heavy snow,

Rock has some bad news for them.

There's so much fresh snow,

it's not really a good idea to go skiing again.

You're not that good skiers, it wouldn't be a good idea.

Could we do sledging?

- Sledging? - Please.

Sure, no problem. Why not?

Whey! Go on, Georgia!

Three, go!

Whooa!

Elle's having brilliant... Oh, Elle, watch out! Ooh! Oh, no.

Let's see that again.

Time for Lisa and Ada to have a go.

Lisa, Ada, we're going to get on the sledge.

-Just once, that's it.

-Yeah!

-Go on, Lisa! Go on, Ada!

-Hoo-hoo!

-Go on, Mum!

-They've both landed in the snow.

-No control at all.

-You can't steer them, can you?

-Are you going to do it again?

-No.

As the snow got heavier, there was time for just one more activity.

We're getting in these and going down that hill.

-How do you feel?

-Down the hill?

-Yeah. Come on then, let's get in.

Oh, no!

Can't see where I'm going. Oh, no!

We must have hit a lump there.

Full marks to Mum and Ada. So far they've had a go at everything.

But what will they think of Elle and Georgia's next surprise?

Yes, Mum, it's an igloo.

-Come on, let's have a look round.

-This eight-bedroom hotel is rebuilt

every year with fresh snow.

There's a bit of heat.

Brace yourselves, Mum and Ada,

you're about to find out why you're here.

I've got something to tell you. This is where we're staying.

-Actually here?

-Is there heating here?

No, it would melt, Mum.

Right. Electricity, to do my hair?

With Mum and Ada not happy about the prospect of staying in the igloo,

they're shown around by manager Luka.

Well, the first layer is one centimetre thick.

On this comes this mattress.

And then on the top we put these goatskins. We get you extra warm.

And on this you get your own sleeping bag.

It's an Arctic model and it's OK till some minus 30 degrees.

We have this sauna outside, too.

If you're too cold here, you can spend the night there.

Toilet is outside, first on the left.

I didn't think they were exactly

going to go, "Oh, I'd love to stay here."

I'm a little bit bothered about upsetting Elle and Georgia,

but I think they would be more upset with me when I've had no sleep.

While they decide whether to stay in the igloo,

Luka prepares a traditional ski-slope delicacy, fondue.

Do I have to dip it on the cheese?

Yeah.

Have you tried the banana? I've never had fondue before.

I've had friends who've done it, but I've never ever done it myself.

Well, done, guys. You've eaten the local food.

Grub eaten, it's decision time.

-Are you up to staying here?

-No, it's too cold and there are no toilets.

If there was a toilet in the room?

-Yeah, and if it was warmer.

-What about you, Ada?

I hate upsetting you, but I couldn't stay here. It's just too cold.

-Leaves you, Mum. Would you stay here?

-I'd do anything for you.

Mum, who doesn't like the cold, is actually going to stay in the igloo.

Next morning, the sun's shining and the igloo's glistening.

But how was the igloo experience?

My mum, obviously, she said she'd stay if I wanted to stay there.

But then like after a while,

I decided I didn't want to stay there cos it's too cold.

So they didn't choose to stay in the igloo,

but back down the mountain the girls will be keen to win the final treat,

an afternoon in a health spa.

Now, I know you've had a fantastic break, but the fun's not over yet

because you could win the pampering session of your dreams.

We're about to test how well you know Mum and Ada.

I'm going to ask three questions.

Get two right and the treat's yours.

However, get two of them wrong and it's your Mum and Ada

who win the treat.

Good luck. Here comes your first question.

When Ada was asked what was the best thing about the holiday,

did he say...

I haven't got a clue.

Erm, he really enjoyed skiing, didn't he?

Yeah. He did enjoy the snow rafting.

-I think we're gonna have to guess.

-I think it might be skiing.

He said he really enjoyed both of them, but we'll go skiing, yeah.

We think skiing.

The best thing's been the ski lessons and the ski school.

-Yeees!

-Girls, well done. You got that question right.

Which means you just need one more right answer and the treat is yours.

OK, question two.

When your mum was asked which food does she now prefer,

did she go with...

She's always having curries.

She comes in from work and goes, "Oh, we'll have a takeaway,"

and it's always curries.

And she says it gets a bit sickly, that fondue.

And they said when they get back on Wednesday...

They're going to have a curry.

We think curry.

-I much prefer a curry.

-Yes!

Congratulations. Go and take your place in the spa. Well, done.

OK? 15 minutes, OK?

-It's nice, innit?

-Yeah.

-I bet you're jealous.

-I am very, yes.

-A little.

It's been the best experience I could ever have.

I've had a fantastic time. I've really, really enjoyed it.

-I thought it was fantastic. Fantastic.

-Cheers.